A drunken applejack salesman becomes a fur trapper in this hilarious, nearly silent comedy that channels the spirit of Looney Tunes and Buster Keaton. Shot in black-and-white with zero CGI, the film uses old-school effects and a cast of performers in animal costumes to create one of the most inventive indie comedies of the year.
Hundreds of Beavers is the kind of movie that makes you wonder: how did anyone actually get this made? In the 19th century, a drunken applejack salesman (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) must go from zero to hero and become North America's greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers. The film is a nearly silent comedy, with minimal dialogue and a heavy reliance on physical gags, slapstick, and visual storytelling.
Did you know the entire film was shot in black-and-white on a microbudget, with the beavers played by actors in mascot-style costumes? There is absolutely no CGI – every snowball, trap, and beaver pile-up was achieved practically. The filmmakers even built a functional, full-size ice-fishing hut and a fur-trading post on a frozen lake in Wisconsin. The result is a DIY aesthetic that feels both lovingly retro and refreshingly original.
The cast is a tight-knit group of Wisconsin-based performers, many of whom had never acted in a feature film before. Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, who also co-wrote and produced the movie, delivers a Chaplin-esque performance as the hapless salesman. Olivia Graves plays the fur trapper's daughter with deadpan charm, and Doug Mancheski – in a full beaver suit – steals every scene he's in.
Genre-wise, the film is a wild hybrid of comedy, adventure, and action, but it's most at home with the silent-era greats. Think The General meets Who Framed Roger Rabbit – if Roger were a beaver. The film has been a hit on the festival circuit, earning a 7.2/10 on TMDB and becoming a cult favorite for its sheer audacity and joyful physical humor.
Now playing in select Belgian cinemas, Hundreds of Beavers is a must-see for anyone who misses the days of practical effects and pure, unadulterated silliness. Bring your sense of wonder – and maybe a flask of applejack.
